Methods, apparatus, systems and computer readable mediums for use in generating a customs export document

ABSTRACT

According to some embodiments, methods, apparatus, systems and/or computer readable mediums are provided. According to some embodiments, a method includes generating at least one shipment request data object based at least in part on at least one outbound delivery data object; generating at least one freight unit data object based at least in part on the at least one shipment request data object; generating at least one shipment data object based at least in part on the at least one freight unit data object; generating at least one invoice data object based at least in part on the at least one shipment data object; and generating at least one customs export document based at least in part on the at least one invoice.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation application of co-pending prior U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/715,866, filed Mar. 2, 2010.

FIELD

Some embodiments of the present invention relate to methods, apparatus,systems and/or computer readable mediums for use in association withcustoms related activities. In particular, some embodiments relate tosystems, methods, apparatus and/or computer readable mediums for use inassociation with generating customs export documents.

BACKGROUND

Exporters are often required to provide a customs export document priorto exporting products out of a trade territory (e.g., a territory of,and/or within, a country or group of countries). The customs exportdocument is often transmitted to a customs authority for the tradeterritory using an electronic system. See for example, the AutomatedExport System (AES), which is commonly used in Germany.

The customs export document is often generated based on information froman enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. For example, an ERP systemmay generate an outbound delivery data object to indicate thatproduct(s), are ready to be delivered to a customer (e.g., created inresponse to a sales order). This will result in making an outbounddelivery to the customer, e.g., a delivery leaving the factory. Aninvoice (for the product(s) to be delivered to the customer) may begenerated from the outbound delivery data object and a customs exportdocument may be generated based on such invoice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system that may be used inassociation with generating customs export documents, according to someembodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a system that may be used ingenerating one or more customs export document, according to someembodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart that illustrates a method according to someembodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram of a system, according to someembodiments.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus having anarchitecture according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a prior art method for generating a customs export document based oninformation from an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, aseparate customs export document is generated for each data deliveryobject.

It has been determined that it may be advantageous to include product(s)from more than one delivery object on a single customs export document,while still including only one customer on the customs export document.In situations where each delivery data object includes only one type ofproduct, it may nonetheless be advantageous to have more than oneproduct on a single customs export document, while including only onecustomer on the customs export document. It may also be advantageous tohave more than one delivery on a single customs export document, whileincluding only one customer on the customs export document. In someembodiments, one or more of these consolidations may greatly reduce thenumber of customs export documents that are required to export ashipment of products to the customer.

It has also been determined that it may be advantageous to facilitatedetermination of whether a shipment has been cleared for export.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a trade territory 100 out ofwhich a plurality of products 102 are to be exported and a system 104that may be used in generating customs export documents, in accordancewith some embodiments.

The trade territory 100 may comprise any type of trade territory. Insome embodiments, the trade territory 100 comprises some and/or allterritory of a single country (e.g., the United States of America). Insome other embodiments, the trade territory 100 comprises some or allterritory of a plurality of countries (e.g., the European Union).

The plurality of products 102 may comprise any type(s) of product(s). Insome embodiments, the plurality of products 102 comprise two or moredifferent types of products, such as for example, a product of a firsttype, represented by product 105, a product of a second type,represented by a product 106, and a product of a third type, representedby a product 107.

The plurality of products 102 may be exported from a facility 108. Priorto being exported, the plurality of products 102 may be produced atand/or delivered to the facility 108. The facility 108, which maycomprise a manufacturing facility and/or any other type of manufacturingor distribution related facility (e.g., warehouse) may be owned,operated and/or otherwise associated with an entity 110.

In some embodiments, two or more of the products to be exported out ofthe trade territory 100 may be combined into a single shipment. In theillustrated embodiment, for example, two or more of the products may becombined into a single shipment transported by a vehicle 110 out of thetrade territory.

In some embodiments, the system provides automatic consolidation ofdeliveries into a shipment. In some embodiments, the delivery includesmore than one product per delivery. In some embodiments, a product isfound in more than one delivery.

In some embodiments, the system 104 provides a user with a capability tocontrol (to at least some degree) whether particular deliveries or typesof deliveries are to be combined into single shipment. In someembodiments, this capability is provided via a provision of one or moreeditable parameters or other tools in a graphical or other type of userinterface. In some embodiments, the capability is provide via a standardsplit screen criteria tool in a graphical user interface that may beemployed by a user to input data that may be used by the system 104 inproviding such control.

The system 104 may be used in generating one or more customs exportdocument prior to exporting the products 102 out of the trade territory.The system 104 may comprise any type(s) of system and may be disposedinside and/or outside of the facility 108 and/or trade territory 100. Insome embodiments, the system 104 (or portion(s) thereof) has anarchitecture that is the same as and/or similar to the architecture ofapparatus 500 (or portion(s) thereof) of FIG. 5. In some embodiments,the system 104 may be owned, operated and/or otherwise associated withthe entity 110.

In some embodiments, the system 104 includes a user device 120, such as,for example, a PC, workstation, set-top device, or mobile computer. Theuser device 120 may, for example, transmit and/or receive data such astext, graphics, videos, audio content, and/or tabular content from oneor more sources within the system 104 and/or external to the system 104.The user device 120 may be located in proximity with and/or remote fromone or more other portions of the system 104.

In some embodiments, the user device 120 includes a display screen (orother output device) and a mouse (or other input device) (none of whichis separately shown) to allow the user device to provide data to and/orreceive data from a user. In some embodiments, the user device 120executes a browser program to transmit and/or receive data via acomputer network, e.g., internet. In some embodiments, the user device120 (or portion(s) thereof) has an architecture that is the same asand/or similar to the architecture of apparatus 500 (or portion(s)thereof) of FIG. 5.

In some embodiments, the user device 120 is used to provide a userinterface, for example, but not limited to one, some or all of the userinterfaces described herein.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the system 104, according to someembodiments. Referring to FIG. 2, the system 104 may comprise a planningand/or logistics system 202, a transportation management system 203 anda trade system 204. The planning and/or logistics system 202 and thetransportation management system 203 may exchange data with each otherrelated to production, sale and/or delivery of goods and services. Thesesystems 202, 203 may also provide data to the trade system 204. Thetrade system 204, may facilitate compliance with regulation includingcreation of documentation. In some embodiments, two or more of theplanning and/or logistics system 202, the transportation managementsystem 203 and the trade system 204 are combined in one system.

In some embodiments, the planning and/or logistics system 202 comprisesan enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, for example an ERP systemprovided by SAP AG headquartered in Walldorf, Germany. In someembodiments, the planning and/or logistics system 202 is a supply chainmanagement system. In some embodiments, the planning and/or logisticssystem 202 (or portion(s) thereof) has an architecture that is the sameas and/or similar to the architecture of apparatus 500 (or portion(s)thereof) of FIG. 5.

In some embodiments, the transportation management system 203 comprisesa system such as, for example, TM 7.0, also provided by SAP AG. In someembodiments, the transportation management system 203 (or portion(s)thereof) has an architecture that is the same as and/or similar to thearchitecture of apparatus 500 (or portion(s) thereof) of FIG. 5.

The trade system 204 may comprise a Global Trade System (GTS), such asfor example, GTS 8.0, also provided by SAP AG. In some embodiments, thetrade system 204 (or portion(s) thereof) has an architecture that is thesame as and/or similar to the architecture of apparatus 500 (orportion(s) thereof) of FIG. 5.

In some embodiments, the transportation management system 203 (which maycomprise SAP TM 7.0) initiates generation of invoices (sometimesreferred to as billing documents) in the planning and/or logisticssystem 202 (which may comprises SAP ERP 6.0) for deliveries that aretransferred from the planning and/or logistics system 202 and processedfurther in the transportation management system 203. The trade system204 may then carry out export processing based on these invoices.

In some embodiments, one or both of two advantages are provided by thesystem 104, where a first advantage is the advantage of using thetransportation management system 203 integration with the planningand/or logistics system 202 and the trade system 204, and a secondadvantage is automated shipment consolidation.

In some embodiments, the system 104 communicates one or more customsexport documents to a customs authority system 206 operated by and/orassociated with a customs authority of the trade territory.

In some embodiments the trade system 204 and/or the transportationmanagement system 203 interact with customs authorities to facilitatepre-clearance whereby a vehicle arrives at the border, often with asealed load, and a pre-clearance to cross. In some embodiments, one ofthe possible efficiencies of such a system would be defeated if thevehicle arrived prior to clearance being issued.

In some embodiments, it is possible to retrieve the release status ofexport transactions assigned by the customs authorities directly fromtransportation management system 203 and/or the trade system 204.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart that illustrates a method 300 according to someembodiments. In some embodiments, the method 300, or one or moreportions thereof, may be performed by the system 104, or one or moreportions thereof, and/or by one or more other systems. For that matter,unless stated otherwise, any method disclosed herein, or one or moreportions thereof, may be performed by the system 104, or one or moreportions thereof, and/or by one or more other systems.

In accordance with some embodiments, the method 300 may be usedgenerating one or more customs export document.

The method 300 is not limited to the order shown in the flow chart.Rather, embodiments of the method 300 may be performed in any order thatis practicable. For that matter, unless stated otherwise, any methoddisclosed herein may be performed in any order that is practicable.

Referring to FIGS. 3A-3B, at 302, the method may include receiving aplurality of outbound delivery data objects. In some embodiments, eachof the plurality of outbound delivery data objects is associated withproduct(s) and a customer and indicates that the associated product(s)are ready to be delivered to the associated customer.

At 304, the method may further include generating at least one shipmentrequest data object based at least in part on the plurality of outbounddelivery data objects.

At 306, the method may further include generating at least one freightunit data object based at least in part on the at least one shipmentrequest data object.

At 308, the method may further include generating at least one shipmentdata object based at least in part on the at least one freight unit dataobject.

At 310, the method may further include generating at least one invoicedata object based at least in part on the at least one shipment dataobject.

At 312, the method may further include generating at least one customsexport document based at least in part on the at least one invoice. Insome embodiments, at least one of the at least one customs exportdocument identifies more than one product that is to be delivered to acustomer.

As stated above, it may be advantageous to include more than one producton a customs export document (while still including only one customer onthe customs export document). In some embodiments, this may reduce thenumber of customs export documents that are required to export ashipment of products to the customer. Reducing the number of documentsmay reduce the amount of time needed to generate the customs exportdocuments for a shipment and/or may reduce the amount of communication(e.g., between the logistics system 202 and the trade system 203) neededto generate the customs export documents for a shipment. In someembodiments, reducing the number of customs export documents may alsoreduce costs because a customs authority may charge for each customsexport document. In addition, in some embodiments, the likelihood of apre-clearance being issued for a shipment increases if the number ofcustoms documents related to the shipment decreases.

At 314, the method may further comprise using the system 104 to manuallycheck a status of a customs declaration (e.g., from the transportationmanagement system 203). A shipment status may then be updated. In someembodiments, the checking of the status may help to make sure that ashipment is not exported before the customs authorities release anexport, thereby helping to make sure that logistics processes arecompliant with all local laws.

At 316, the method may further include receiving a user request for astatus of a customs declaration and providing the status of the customsdeclaration in response to the user request.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of thesystem 104 performing portions of the method 300 (FIG. 3), in accordancewith some embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 4, in some embodiments, a planning and/or logisticssystem 202 portion of the system 104 comprises an enterprise resourceplanning (ERP) system, for example an ERP system (e.g., ERP 6.0)provided by SAP AG headquartered in Walldorf, Germany, a transportationmanagement system 203 portion of the system 104 comprises TM 7.0, alsoprovided by SAP AG, and a trade system 204 portion of the system 104comprises a Global Trade System (GTS), such as for example, GTS 8.0,also provided by SAP AG.

The planning and/or logistics system 202 may include an order processingportion 410 an invoicing portion 412 and a GTS invoicing portion 414.The order processing portion 410 may receive one or more sales orderdata objects, represented in FIG. 4 by a sales order data object 416,and may generate a plurality of outbound delivery data objects,represented in FIG. 4 by a delivery data object 418, based at least inpart thereon. The plurality of outbound delivery data objects 418 mayindicate that a plurality of products are ready to be delivered to oneor more customers. In some embodiments, the receiving of the one or moresales order data objects 416 triggers the generation of the plurality ofoutbound delivery data objects 418. In some embodiments, the sales orderis any other type of order created in the course of business, such as, arepair order, a fulfillment order,

The transportation management system 203 may include a transportationrequest processing portion 420 and a transportation activity processingportion 422. The transportation request processing portion 420 mayreceive the plurality of outbound delivery data objects 418 and maygenerate a plurality of shipment request data objects based at least inpart thereon. In some embodiments, the receiving of the plurality ofoutbound delivery data objects 418, triggers the generation of theplurality of shipment request data objects. In some embodiments, thereis a one to one correspondence between the plurality of shipment requestdata objects 424 and the plurality of outbound delivery data objects418. In such embodiments, each of the shipment request data objects 424may be based at least in part on a respective one of the plurality ofoutbound delivery data objects 418.

In some embodiments, shipment request data objects 424 are not generatedunless outbound deliveries (associated with the plurality of outbounddelivery data objects 418) are exports and have not been billed. In someembodiments, the at least one shipment request data object is generatedonly if one or more of outbound deliveries (associated with theplurality of outbound delivery data objects) is for an export and hasnot been billed. In some embodiments, the at least one shipment requestdata object is generated only if all of outbound deliveries (associatedwith the plurality of outbound delivery data objects) are for exportsand have not been billed.

The plurality of shipment request data objects 424 may be received bythe transportation activity processing portion 422, which may generateone or more planned transportation activity data objects, represented inFIG. 4 by a planned transportation activity data object 426, based atleast in part thereon. The transportation activity processing portion422 may also generate at least one freight unit data objects,represented in FIG. 4 by a freight unit data object 428. In someembodiments, each of the at least one freight unit data objects 428 isassociated with a freight unit for shipping and identifies one or moreof the products that will be shipped in the associated freight unit. Insome embodiments, a single freight unit may include products for morethan one customer.

In some embodiments, a freight unit comprises a shipping crate or othertype of container and/or structure to receive product(s) to bedelivered. In some embodiments, multiple freight units are loaded onto asingle ship, train, truck, or other type of vehicle for transportingproduct(s) to be delivered. In some embodiments, a shipment comprisesall of the deliveries being transported on a single vehicle to a singlecustomer. In some embodiments, a delivery comprises all of the productsthat are on a single order for a single customer. A customer may or maynot be an end customer. In some embodiments, a customer comprises adistributor that supplies product(s) to other customers (each of whichmay or may not be an end customer).

The at least one freight unit data object 428 may be received by thetransportation request processing portion 420, which may generate atleast one shipment data object, represented in FIG. 4 by a shipment dataobject 430, based at least in part thereon. In some embodiments, ashipment data object 430 identifies one or more freight units that willbe shipped as part of the shipment. In some embodiments, a shipment isto be shipped via a vehicle 110 (FIG. 1).

If a customs export document is to be generated for a shipment, a callmay be made (and/or other data sent) 432 to the GTS invoicing portion414, based at least in part on the shipment data object 430 associatedwith the shipment. In some embodiments, the call (and/or other data) 432includes a plurality of unique identifiers that correspond to and/orindicate products that have been combined into the shipment.

The GTS invoicing portion 414 may generate data based at least in parton the call (and/or other data) 432. The invoicing portion 412 mayreceive the data generated by the GTS invoicing portion 414 and maygenerate one or more invoices, represented in FIG. 4 by an invoice 434,base at least in part thereon. In some embodiments, each of the one ormore invoices 434 comprises a pro forma invoice that is generated in asame mapping and/or manner as used when generating invoices based on oneor more outbound delivery data object (e.g., received from the orderprocessing portion). In some embodiments, a plurality of invoices aregenerated, each invoice being associated with a respective customer andindicating one or more products that the respective customer is toreceive from a shipment.

In some embodiments, the system 104 provides a user with a capability tocontrol (to at least some degree) whether particular deliveries or typesof deliveries are to be combined into a single invoice and/or separatedinto multiple invoices. In some embodiments, this capability is providedvia a provision of one or more editable parameters or other tools in agraphical or other type of user interface that may be employed by a userto input data that may be used by the system 104 in providing suchcontrol. In some embodiments, the planning and/or logistics system 202and/or the transportation management system 203 has one or more controlblocks that receives the user data and/or implements the control. Insome embodiments, the capability is provide via a standard split screencriteria tool in a graphical user interface.

The trade system 204 may include an export declaration processing forreceiving invoices portion 436 and an export processing portion 438. Theexport declaration processing for receiving invoices portion 436 mayreceive the one or more invoices 434 and may generate one or morecustoms export document, represented by a customs export document 440,based at least thereon. In some embodiments, each customs exportdocument 440 has a one to one correspondence with a respective one ofthe invoices. Thus, in some embodiments, the trade system generatesexactly one customs export document for each invoice 434 suppliedthereto. In some embodiments, each customs export document 440 isassociated with a respective customer and indicates one or more productsthat the respective customer is to receive from a shipment. The exportprocessing portion 438 may receive the one or more customs exportdocuments 440 and may generate one or more customs shipment document,represented in FIG. 4 by a customs shipment document 442, based at leastthereon.

In some embodiments, the trade system 204 may provide data indicating astatus of a customs declaration (e.g., from the transportationmanagement system).

In some embodiments, the trade system 204 allows a user to manuallycheck the status of a customs declaration. In some embodiments, thisstatus update is triggered in the transportation management system 203and data is transferred from the trade system 204 (directly orindirectly) to the transportation management system. In someembodiments, this status update is manually triggered in thetransportation management system. In some embodiments, communicationbetween the transportation management system 203 and the trade system204 is via a communications link 444. In some embodiments, the system104 provides a graphical user interface that allows the user to performthis check. In some embodiments, the graphical user interface is used inassociation with a user device, e.g., user device 120 (FIG. 1). In someembodiments, a shipment status can then be updated. In some embodiments,this may help make sure that a shipment is not exported before thecustoms authorities release an export, thereby helping to make sure thatlogistics processes are compliant with all local laws.

In some embodiments, the system 104 removes a block on transportexecution (i.e., removes a hold on dispatching a vehicle) as soon as thecustoms authorities grant the release (e.g., grants a pre-clearance).

In some embodiments, the planning and/or logistics system 202 comprisesan enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, for example an ERP system(e.g., ERP 6.0) and a trade system 204 comprises a Global Trade System,such as for example, Global Trade Services (GTS) 8.0, both provided bySAP AG headquartered in Walldorf, Germany. The trade system 204 may beimplemented as an Advanced Business Application Programming (ABAP)application within the ERP system. Connection to the transportationmanagement system 203 may be through an Application ProgrammingInterface (API) incorporated into the ERP system and the transportationmanagement system 203 may make remote function calls to the trade system204. As such, in shipping scenarios involving exporting and traderegulation compliance, the API may include a module which allows a userto create invoices, which are then sent to the trade system 204.

In some embodiments, the system 104 comprises an integration of SAPGlobal Trade Services (GTS) 8.0 and SAP Transportation Management (TM)7.0 that helps to simplify invoice creation, export declaration andshipment consolidation. In some embodiments, SAP TM is configured suchthat a flag is provided on a shipment header to indicate the shipment'srelevance for customs.

Some embodiments provide shipment consolidation which allows processingof more than one outbound delivery, as characterized by one or moredelivery data objects, e.g., delivery data object 418, to create onetrade system 204 relevant billing document.

In some embodiments, in the planning and/or logistics system 202, theinvoice is created with input from the transportation management system203. In some embodiments, the invoice may comprise a report generated byretrieving data from a data source, and processing it in accordance witha schema. The processing can specify consolidating deliveries bycustomer by shipment. In some embodiments, this invoice may never bepresented to the customer it is created to aid export compliance. Withinthe trade system 204 it is a customs export document, e.g., customsexport document 440.

In some embodiments, the at least one shipment data object is generatedby a function residing in a separate plug-in for GTS that facilitatesintegration of an SAP ERP system and an SAP TM system. The plug-in mayallow the ERP system to receive data a shipment's content. The ERPsystem can make use of its customer, production and other data to createdocuments that can be consumed by GTS. A company's many outbounddeliveries, e.g. characterized by the outbound delivery data objectssuch as object 418 from FIG. 4, may be in one shipment. Each deliverymay be related many-to-one to an invoice (i.e., document created in theERP system) which related one-to-one a customs declaration (i.e.,document used in the GTS system). An invoicing system may query the ERPto create one invoice per customer. However, the invoicing system mayquery the ERP and transport system to create one invoice per customerper shipment. In some embodiments, the shipment information is retrievedvia an API in the transport system, e.g., SAP TM. GTS is fed theseinvoices thus being able to make a consolidated customs declaration foreach shipment and customer—automated shipment consolidation.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an apparatus 500 having an architectureaccording to some embodiments. In some embodiments, one or more of thesystems (or portion(s) thereof) disclosed herein may have anarchitecture that is the same as and/or similar to the architecture ofapparatus 500 (or portion(s) thereof).

Referring to FIG. 5, in accordance with some embodiments, the apparatus500 includes a processor 501 coupled to a communication device 502, aninput device 503, an output device 504 and a storage device 506.

In some embodiments, the processor 501 may execute processor-executableprogram code to provide one or more portions of one or more functionsand/or one or more portions of one or more methods disclosed herein. Insome embodiments, the processor 501 may comprise one or more INTEL®Pentium® processors.

The communication device 502 may be used to facilitate communicationwith other devices and/or systems. In some embodiments, communicationdevice 502 may comprise an Ethernet and/or other type of connection to anetwork and/or resource and through which apparatus 500 may receiveand/or transmit data.

The input device 503 may be used to input data. In some embodiments, theinput device 503 may comprise a keyboard, a keypad, a track ball, atouchpad, a mouse or other pointing device, a microphone, a knob or aswitch, an infra-red (IR) port and/or a computer media reader.

The output device 504 may be used to output data. In some embodiments,the output device 504 may comprise an IR port, a docking station, adisplay, a speaker and/or a printer.

The storage device 506 may store one or more programs 510-512 and/orother data for operation of the apparatus 500. In some embodiments, theone or more programs and/or other data may include one or more operatingsystems, one or more database management systems and/or otherapplications for operation of the apparatus 500. In some embodiments,the one or more programs 510-512 may include one or more instructions tobe executed by the processor 501 to provide one or more portions of oneor more functions and/or one or more portions of one or more methodsdisclosed herein. In some embodiments, the one or more programs and/orother data may include one or more databases 514-516.

In some embodiments, the storage device 506 may comprise one or morestorage devices, such as, for example, magnetic storage devices (e.g.,magnetic tape and/or hard disk drives), optical storage devices, and/orsemiconductor memory devices such as Random Access Memory (RAM) devicesand Read Only Memory (ROM) devices.

In some embodiments, one or more portions of one or more embodimentsdisclosed herein may be embodied in a system, a method, an apparatusand/or a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storagemedium may store thereon instructions that when executed by a processor(or multiple processors) result in performance of a process according toany of the embodiments described herein.

Unless stated otherwise, terms such as, for example, “comprises”, “has”,“includes”, and all forms thereof, are considered open-ended, so as notto preclude additional elements and/or features. In addition, unlessstated otherwise, terms such as, for example, “a”, “one”, “first”, areconsidered open-ended, and do not mean “only a”, “only one” and “only afirst”, respectively. Moreover, unless stated otherwise, the term“first” does not, by itself, require that there also be a “second”.

In addition, unless stated otherwise, terms such as, for example, “inresponse to” and “based on” mean “in response at least to” and “based atleast on”, respectively, so as not to preclude being responsive toand/or based on, more than one thing.

In addition, unless stated otherwise, data may comprise any type ofinformation and may have and/or be stored in any form. In someembodiments, data may be stored in raw, excerpted, summarized and/oranalyzed form.

In addition, unless stated otherwise, a processor may comprise any typeof processor. For example, a processor may be programmable or nonprogrammable, general purpose or special purpose, dedicated or nondedicated, distributed or non distributed, shared or not shared, and/orany combination thereof. A processor may include, but is not limited to,hardware, software, firmware, and/or any combination thereof. Hardwaremay include, but is not limited to off the shelf integrated circuits,custom integrated circuits and/or any combination thereof. In someembodiments, a processor comprises a microprocessor. Software mayinclude, but is not limited to, instructions that are storable and/orstored on a computer readable medium, such as, for example, magnetic oroptical disk, magnetic or optical tape, CD-ROM, DVD, RAM, EPROM, ROM orother semiconductor memory. A processor may employ continuous signals,periodically sampled signals, and/or any combination thereof. If aprocessor is distributed, two or more portions of the processor maycommunicate with one another through a communication link.

In addition, unless stated otherwise, a communication link may be anytype of communication link, for example, but not limited to, wired(e.g., conductors, fiber optic cables) or wireless (e.g., acousticlinks, electromagnetic links or any combination thereof including, forexample, but not limited to microwave links, satellite links, infraredlinks), and/or combinations thereof, each of which may be public orprivate, dedicated and/or shared (e.g., a network). A communication linkmay or may not be a permanent communication link. A communication linkmay support any type of data in any form, for example, but not limitedto, analog and/or digital (e.g., a sequence of binary values, i.e. a bitstring) signal(s) in serial and/or in parallel form. The data may or maynot be divided into blocks. If divided into blocks, the amount of datain a block may be predetermined or determined dynamically, and/or may befixed (e.g., uniform) or variable. A communication link may employ aprotocol or combination of protocols.

In addition, unless stated otherwise, a “database” may refer to one ormore related or unrelated databases.

While various embodiments have been described, such description shouldnot be interpreted in a limiting sense. It is to be understood thatother embodiments may be practiced without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, as recited in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium havingstored thereon processor-executable instructions that when executed by aprocessor result in the following: receiving a plurality of outbounddelivery data objects indicating that a plurality of products are readyto be delivered to one or more customers; generating at least oneshipment request data object based at least in part on the plurality ofoutbound delivery data objects; generating at least one freight unitdata object based at least in part on the at least one shipment requestdata object, each freight unit data object being associated with afreight unit and identifying one or more of the plurality of products tobe shipped in the associated freight unit; generating at least oneshipment data object based at least in part on the at least one freightunit data object; providing, based at least in part on the at least oneshipment data object, data indicating that multiple ones of theplurality of products have been combined into a first shipment to afirst one of the one or more customers; generating at least one invoicedata object based at least in part on the data indicating that multipleones of the plurality of products have been combined into the firstshipment to the first one of the one or more customers; and generating,based at least in part on the at least one invoice data object, acustoms export document that: (i) indicates that multiple ones of theplurality of products that have been combined into the first shipment tothe first one of the one or more customers (ii) is required to exportthe multiple ones of the plurality of products to the first one of theone or more customers and (iii) is not an invoice to the first customer.2. The medium of claim 1, further comprising executable instructionsthat when executed by a processor result in the following: receiving atleast one sales order data object; and generating the plurality ofoutbound delivery data objects based at least in part on the at leastone sales order data object.
 3. The medium of claim 1, wherein eachshipment request data object of the at least one shipment request dataobject is associated with and corresponds to a respective outbounddelivery data object of the plurality of outbound delivery data objects.4. The medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one invoice data objectincludes an invoice that indicates the multiple ones of the plurality ofproducts that have been combined into the first shipment to the firstone of the one or more customers.
 5. The medium of claim 1, wherein theat least one invoice data object comprises only one invoice.
 6. Themedium of claim 1, wherein the at least one invoice data objectcomprises a plurality of invoices.
 7. The medium of claim 1, wherein thegenerating, based at least in part on the at least one invoice dataobject, a customs export document that: (i) indicates that multiple onesof the plurality of products that have been combined into the firstshipment to the first one of the one or more customers (ii) is requiredto export the multiple ones of the plurality of products to the firstone of the one or more customers and (iii) is not an invoice to thefirst customer, comprises: generating, based at least in part on the atleast one invoice data object, a customs declaration that: (i) indicatesthat multiple ones of the plurality of products that have been combinedinto the first shipment to the first one of the one or more customers(ii) is required to export the multiple ones of the plurality ofproducts to the first one of the one or more customers and (iii) is notan invoice to the first customer.
 8. The medium of claim 1, wherein thegenerating at least one invoice data object based at least in part onthe data indicating that multiple ones of the plurality of products havebeen combined into the first shipment to the first one of the one ormore customers, comprises: generating a first pro forma invoice based atleast in part on the data indicating that multiple ones of the pluralityof products have been combined into the first shipment to the first oneof the one or more customer; and wherein the generating, based at leastin part on the at least one invoice data object, a customs exportdocument that: (i) indicates that multiple ones of the plurality ofproducts that have been combined into the first shipment to the firstone of the one or more customers (ii) is required to export the multipleones of the plurality of products to the first one of the one or morecustomers and (iii) is not an invoice to the first customer, comprises:generating, based at least in part on the first pro forma invoice and noother invoice, a customs export document that: (i) indicates thatmultiple ones of the plurality of products that have been combined intothe first shipment to the first one of the one or more customers (ii) isrequired to export the multiple ones of the plurality of products to thefirst one of the one or more customers and (iii) is not an invoice tothe first customer.
 9. The medium of claim 1, further comprisingexecutable instructions that when executed by a processor result in thefollowing: receiving a second plurality of outbound delivery dataobjects indicating that a second plurality of products are ready to bedelivered to one or more customers; and generating a plurality of proforma invoices based on the second plurality of outbound delivery dataobjects that indicate that the second plurality of products are ready tobe delivered to one or more customers; and wherein the generating atleast one invoice data object based at least in part on the dataindicating that multiple ones of the plurality of products have beencombined into the first shipment to the first one of the one or morecustomers, comprises: generating at least one pro forma invoice based atleast in part on: (i) the data indicating that multiple ones of theplurality of products have been combined into the first shipment to thefirst one of the one or more customers and (ii) a same mapping that isused to generate the plurality of pro forma invoices based on the secondplurality of outbound delivery data objects.
 10. The medium of claim 1,further comprising executable instructions that when executed by aprocessor result in the following: generating, one or more customsshipment document based at least in part on the customs export documentthat: (i) indicates that multiple ones of the plurality of products thathave been combined into the first shipment to the first one of the oneor more customers (ii) is required to export the multiple ones of theplurality of products to the first one of the one or more customers and(iii) is not an invoice to the first customer.
 11. A method comprising:receiving, by a processor, a plurality of outbound delivery data objectsindicating that a plurality of products are ready to be delivered to oneor more customers; generating, by a processor, at least one shipmentrequest data object based at least in part on the plurality of outbounddelivery data objects; generating, by a processor, at least one freightunit data object based at least in part on the at least one shipmentrequest data object, each freight unit data object being associated witha freight unit and identifying one or more of the plurality of productsto be shipped in the associated freight unit; generating at least oneshipment data object based at least in part on the at least one freightunit data object; providing, by a processor, based at least in part onthe at least one shipment data object, data indicating that multipleones of the plurality of products have been combined into a firstshipment to a first one of the one or more customers; generating, by aprocessor, at least one invoice data object based at least in part onthe data indicating that multiple ones of the plurality of products havebeen combined into the first shipment to the first one of the one ormore customers; and generating, by a processor, based at least in parton the at least one invoice data object, a customs export document that:(i) indicates that multiple ones of the plurality of products that havebeen combined into the first shipment to the first one of the one ormore customers (ii) is required to export the multiple ones of theplurality of products to the first one of the one or more customers and(iii) is not an invoice to the first customer.
 12. The method of claim11, further comprising: receiving at least one sales order data object;and generating the plurality of outbound delivery data objects based atleast in part on the at least one sales order data object.
 13. Themethod of claim 11, wherein each shipment request data object of the atleast one shipment request data object is associated with andcorresponds to a respective outbound delivery data object of theplurality of outbound delivery data objects.
 14. The method of claim 11,wherein the at least one invoice data object includes an invoice thatindicates the multiple ones of the plurality of products that have beencombined into the first shipment to the first one of the one or morecustomers.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one invoicedata object comprises only one invoice.
 16. The method of claim 11,wherein the at least one invoice data object comprises a plurality ofinvoices.
 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the generating, based atleast in part on the at least one invoice data object, a customs exportdocument that: (i) indicates that multiple ones of the plurality ofproducts that have been combined into the first shipment to the firstone of the one or more customers (ii) is required to export the multipleones of the plurality of products to the first one of the one or morecustomers and (iii) is not an invoice to the first customer, comprises:generating, based at least in part on the at least one invoice dataobject, a customs declaration that: (i) indicates that multiple ones ofthe plurality of products that have been combined into the firstshipment to the first one of the one or more customers (ii) is requiredto export the multiple ones of the plurality of products to the firstone of the one or more customers and (iii) is not an invoice to thefirst customer.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein the generating atleast one invoice data object based at least in part on the dataindicating that multiple ones of the plurality of products have beencombined into the first shipment to the first one of the one or morecustomers, comprises: generating a first pro forma invoice based atleast in part on the data indicating that multiple ones of the pluralityof products have been combined into the first shipment to the first oneof the one or more customer; and wherein the generating, based at leastin part on the at least one invoice data object, a customs exportdocument that: (i) indicates that multiple ones of the plurality ofproducts that have been combined into the first shipment to the firstone of the one or more customers (ii) is required to export the multipleones of the plurality of products to the first one of the one or morecustomers and (iii) is not an invoice to the first customer, comprises:generating, based at least in part on the first pro forma invoice and noother invoice, a customs export document that: (i) indicates thatmultiple ones of the plurality of products that have been combined intothe first shipment to the first one of the one or more customers (ii) isrequired to export the multiple ones of the plurality of products to thefirst one of the one or more customers and (iii) is not an invoice tothe first customer.
 19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:receiving a second plurality of outbound delivery data objectsindicating that a second plurality of products are ready to be deliveredto one or more customers; and generating a plurality of pro formainvoices based on the second plurality of outbound delivery data objectsthat indicate that the second plurality of products are ready to bedelivered to one or more customers; and wherein the generating at leastone invoice data object based at least in part on the data indicatingthat multiple ones of the plurality of products have been combined intothe first shipment to the first one of the one or more customers,comprises: generating at least one pro forma invoice based at least inpart on: (i) the data indicating that multiple ones of the plurality ofproducts have been combined into the first shipment to the first one ofthe one or more customers and (ii) a same mapping that is used togenerate the plurality of pro forma invoices based on the secondplurality of outbound delivery data objects.
 20. The method of claim 11,further comprising: generating, one or more customs shipment documentbased at least in part on the customs export document that: (i)indicates that multiple ones of the plurality of products that have beencombined into the first shipment to the first one of the one or morecustomers (ii) is required to export the multiple ones of the pluralityof products to the first one of the one or more customers and (iii) isnot an invoice to the first customer.
 21. A system comprising: at leastone processor configured to: receive a plurality of outbound deliverydata objects indicating that a plurality of products are ready to bedelivered to one or more customers; generate at least one shipmentrequest data object based at least in part on the plurality of outbounddelivery data objects; generate at least one freight unit data objectbased at least in part on the at least one shipment request data object,each freight unit data object being associated with a freight unit andidentifying one or more of the plurality of products to be shipped inthe associated freight unit; generate at least one shipment data objectbased at least in part on the at least one freight unit data object;provide, based at least in part on the at least one shipment dataobject, data indicating that multiple ones of the plurality of productshave been combined into a first shipment to a first one of the one ormore customers; generate at least one invoice data object based at leastin part on data indicating that multiple ones of the plurality ofproducts have been combined into the first shipment to the first one ofthe one or more customers; generate, based at least in part on the atleast one invoice data object, a customs export document that: (i)indicates that multiple ones of the plurality of products that have beencombined into the first shipment to the first one of the one or morecustomers (ii) is required to export the multiple ones of the pluralityof products to the first one of the one or more customers and (iii) isnot an invoice to the first customer.
 22. The system of claim 21,wherein the at least one processor is further to: receive at least onesales order data object; and generate the plurality of outbound deliverydata objects based at least in part on the at least one sales order dataobject.
 23. The system of claim 21, wherein each shipment request dataobject of the at least one shipment request data object is associatedwith and corresponds to a respective outbound delivery data object ofthe plurality of outbound delivery data objects.
 24. The system of claim21, wherein the at least one invoice data object includes an invoicethat indicates the multiple ones of the plurality of products that havebeen combined into the first shipment to the first one of the one ormore customers.
 25. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least oneinvoice data object comprises only one invoice.
 26. The system of claim21, wherein the at least one invoice data object comprises a pluralityof invoices.
 27. The system of claim 21, wherein an outbound deliverydata object of the plurality of outbound delivery data objects isgenerated based at least in part on a fulfillment order.
 28. The systemof claim 21, wherein an outbound delivery data object of the pluralityof outbound delivery data objects is generated based at least in part ona repair order.
 29. The system of claim 21, wherein the generate, basedat least in part on the at least one invoice data object, a customsexport document that: (i) indicates that multiple ones of the pluralityof products that have been combined into the first shipment to the firstone of the one or more customers (ii) is required to export the multipleones of the plurality of products to the first one of the one or morecustomers and (iii) is not an invoice to the first customer, comprises:generate, based at least in part on the at least one invoice dataobject, a customs declaration that: (i) indicates that multiple ones ofthe plurality of products that have been combined into the firstshipment to the first one of the one or more customers (ii) is requiredto export the multiple ones of the plurality of products to the firstone of the one or more customers and (iii) is not an invoice to thefirst customer.
 30. The system of claim 21, wherein the generate atleast one invoice data object based at least in part on the dataindicating that multiple ones of the plurality of products have beencombined into the first shipment to the first one of the one or morecustomers, comprises: generate a first pro forma invoice based at leastin part on the data indicating that multiple ones of the plurality ofproducts have been combined into the first shipment to the first one ofthe one or more customer; and wherein the generate, based at least inpart on the at least one invoice data object, a customs export documentthat: (i) indicates that multiple ones of the plurality of products thathave been combined into the first shipment to the first one of the oneor more customers (ii) is required to export the multiple ones of theplurality of products to the first one of the one or more customers and(iii) is not an invoice to the first customer, comprises: generate,based at least in part on the first pro forma invoice and no otherinvoice, a customs export document that: (i) indicates that multipleones of the plurality of products that have been combined into the firstshipment to the first one of the one or more customers (ii) is requiredto export the multiple ones of the plurality of products to the firstone of the one or more customers and (iii) is not an invoice to thefirst customer.
 31. The system of claim 21, further comprising at leastone processor configured to: receive a second plurality of outbounddelivery data objects indicating that a second plurality of products areready to be delivered to one or more customers; and generate a pluralityof pro forma invoices based on the second plurality of outbound deliverydata objects that indicate that the second plurality of products areready to be delivered to one or more customers; and wherein the generateat least one invoice data object based at least in part on the dataindicating that multiple ones of the plurality of products have beencombined into the first shipment to the first one of the one or morecustomers, comprises: generate at least one pro forma invoice based atleast in part on: (i) the data indicating that multiple ones of theplurality of products have been combined into the first shipment to thefirst one of the one or more customers and (ii) a same mapping that isused to generate the plurality of pro forma invoices based on the secondplurality of outbound delivery data objects.
 32. The system of claim 21,further comprising at least one processor configured to: generate, oneor more customs shipment document based at least in part on the customsexport document that: (i) indicates that multiple ones of the pluralityof products that have been combined into the first shipment to the firstone of the one or more customers (ii) is required to export the multipleones of the plurality of products to the first one of the one or morecustomers and (iii) is not an invoice to the first customer.